Announcement: Mirvish Productions Announces the Off-Mirvish series

Mirvish Productions has announced a new series, called Off- Mirvish. The goal is to expand Mirvish’s lineup, as they are well known for featuring famous international productions, often musicals. This comes from a desire to celebrate the Toronto theatre community, marketing them to a more mainstream audience.

The line up includes:

Terminus, which had a recent production at the Summerworks Festival and was the winner of the festival’s Best Production Award, is about three interwoven stories set in contemporary Ireland. Told in rhyming verse, Terminus will be performed in an unusual way at the Royal Alexandra Theatre – the audience will be seated on risers on the stage itself, while the action of the play will take place on the lip of the stage. It will run from November 21, 2012- December 9, 2012 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

Anthony Rapp’s Without You uses the back story of the creation of the landmark musical RENT to launch into a personal exploration of love and loss – both of Jonathan Larson, who wrote RENT and died very early into the production, and of Rapp’s mother, who was battling cancer at the time, punctuated with songs and a five-member band. Without You runs December 13, 2012-January 6, 2013 at the Panasonic Theatre.

Studio 180’s Clybourne Park ran at Canadian Stage earlier this year, and the cast returns in this hilarious look at race and real estate. The show is the winner of the Tony, Olivier, Evening Standard and Pulitzer Prize awards. Clybourne Park will be at the Panasonic Theatre February 12, 2013 – March 3, 2013.

Mary Walsh’s Dancing with Rage was supposed to have a run at Theatre Passe Muraille earlier this year, when she was sidelined by pneumonia. All tickets purchased for that run will be honoured by Mirvish. This show incorporates all of the characters Walsh is famous for, including her armour-clad Marg Delahunty. Dancing With Rage will play March 5 – 24, 2013 at the Panasonic Theatre.

The regular series pricing will be $199 for front orchestra packages and $99 for rear orchestra packages. Current Mirvish subscribers can get the front orchestra package for $149 with a valid subscriber account for the 2012-2013 Mirvish Subscription.

Packages can be ordered by calling 416-593-4225 or 1-800-771-3933, by mailing or visiting the Mirvish Subscription office at 284 King Street West, Suite 310 or online.

Personally, I am extremely excited about this new series Mirvish is offering. Allowing the Toronto theatre community to expand their audience to Mirvish-scale proportions is an exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

Photo of Anthony Rapp – Without You